We evaluated the anti-tumor activities of the oral administration of fucoidan extracted from Cladosiphon okamuranus using a tumor (colon 26)-bearing mouse model. The materials used included low-molecular-weight fucoidan (LMWF: 6.5–40 kDa), intermediate-molecular-weight fucoidan (IMWF: 110–138 kDa) and high-molecular-weight fucoidan (HMWF: 300–330 kDa). The IMWF group showed significantly suppressed tumor growth. The LMWF and HMWF groups showed significantly increased survival times compared with that observed in the control group (mice fed a fucoidan-free diet). The median survival times in the control, LMWF, IMWF and HMWF groups were 23, 46, 40 and 43 days, respectively. It was also found that oral administration of fucoidan increased the population of natural killer cells in the spleen. Furthermore, from the results of the experiment using Myd-88 knockout mice, it was found that these effects are related to gut immunity. These results suggest that fucoidan is a candidate anti-tumor functional food.

D-Glucosamine hydrochloride (GlcN∙HCl) is an endogenous amino monosaccharide synthesized from glucose that is useful in the treatment of joint diseases in both humans and animals. The aim of this study was to examine amino acid metabolism in dogs after oral administration of GlcN∙HCl. Accelerated fumarate respiration and elevated plasma levels of lactic acid and alanine were observed after administration. These results suggest that oral administration of GlcN∙HCl induces anaerobic respiration and starvation in cells, and we hypothesize that these conditions promote cartilage regeneration. Further studies are required to evaluate the expression of transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β).

We examined the effects of oral glucosamine hydrochloride (GlcN), N-acetyl-D-glucosamine (GlcNAc) and D-glucose (Glc) administration on plasma total free amino acid (PFAA) concentrations in dogs. The PFAA concentrations increased in the control group and the GlcNAc group at one hour after feeding, and each amino acid concentration increased. On the other hand, in the GlcN group and the Glc group PFAA concentrations decreased at one hour after feeding. A significant decrease in amino acid concentration was observed for glutamate, glycine and alanine. Our results suggest the existence of differences in PFAA dynamics after oral administration of GlcN and GlcNAc in dogs.

Background: The lipophilic photosensitizer, TONS 501, is a novel porphyrin-derived methyl ester that was developed for photodynamic antimicrobial chemotherapy. This study developed a hydrophilic and anionic porphyrin salt of this compound (TONS 501-Na) for use in photodynamic therapy (PDT). This chlorin derivative is synthesized from the protoporphyrin IX dimethyl ester. Materials and Methods: We investigated the in vitro cytotoxic effects of TONS 501-Na-mediated PDT on EMT6 mouse breast cancer cells. EMT6 cells were incubated with 0-100 μg/ml TONS 501-Na for 24 h prior to replacing the culture medium and exposing the cells to 6 mW/cm2 diode laser irradiation at 0-13 J/cm2 to induce PDT. Morphological changes and cell viability were evaluated 24 h after PDT. The percentages of apoptotic cells were evaluated 4 h and 24 h after PDT. Results: The concentrations of TONS 501-Na that killed 50% of EMT6 cells after exposure to light doses of 0, 0.4, 3, 6, or 13 J/cm2 were 84.6, 33.2, 18, 8.2, and 2.2 μg/ml, respectively. Tumor cells exposed to PDT showed chromatin condensation and fragmentation. The percentages of apoptotic cells increased in a TONS 501-Na concentration-dependent manner in the PDT group, and were significantly higher than those in the control group or in cells treated with TONS 501-Na or laser irradiation alone. Conclusion: TONS 501-Na-mediated PDT induced mouse breast cancer cell death in a concentration-dependent manner. Future studies should evaluate the in vivo pharmacokinetics, tissue distribution, and photodynamic effects of TONS 501-Na.

11歳のミニチュアダックスフントが全般発作を主訴に来院し，MRI検査で髄膜腫と診断された．抗がん剤等の治療を希望されなかったため，病変に対し温熱療法の1つであるラジオ波誘導温熱療法（オンコサーミア）を実施した．本症例は治療開始より1,065日で亡くなった．その間，てんかん様発作は認められたものの，一般状態は良好に維持されていた．今回の症例では，オンコサーミアによって長期間の生存が可能であった（33.1カ月）．これは，手術及び放射線を併用した場合と同等の生存期間である．さらに，その期間は大きな副作用もなく，症例のQuality Of Lifeは良好に維持されていた．この結果から，オンコサーミアは犬の髄膜腫の進行を抑える効果がある可能性が示唆された．